WOW! There's a freakin zillion different KLR pages on the internet - and
they're just for the KLR650! Here I was thinking I
would put a page together for the KLR with a bit here and a bit there on tips or
bits of info I've gathered or come up with. Heh, looks like about 500 other guys
already beat me to it! Having said that, I can host individual pages here of you
and your bikes, ride reports, descriptions of your bikes mods, etc,... and links
to all those cool KLR sites out there. With that, let's get it started!

Note: Some of the
parts, shops, and people described in the articles listed below are No Longer
Available, much less at the prices illustrated.

Please note these
documents are for reference only - your mileage may vary.

It's a Doskocil that I bought on ebay for $35
shipped. Probably because it isn't a Pelican. They seem to demand a lot more
money. I didn't know how good a deal I was getting until the box arrived. It has
all the same features as a Pelican (waterproof, atmospheric pressure relief
valve, super heavy duty plastic construction and material, etc,...) except to
the best of my knowledge it doesn't come in other colors. The pelicans I have
seen of this size have the two latches in the front (top?) handle area. This has
latches on the sides too. Foam padded and features a lip or flange all around
the box which is perfect for drilling bungee holes into and slipping a
combination lock into. I have bungeed large items on top of the box using these
holes as well as locked the box with my combination lock (no keys to lose). If
I'm at a hotel, or somewhere populated with valuables in the box, I just slide
it off and either take it with me or leave it in the Hotel room. Cool.

I bought an 8' composite "board" from Home Depot
that's normally used for decking wood, $20 (+/-). It's weather resistant which
is why I wanted it - regular plastic in this quantity is expensive and not
available locally. Home depots are everywhere. I cut about 20" from one end and
stored the rest in the garage for ...later? I cut the 20" piece on a table saw
in half to make two 10" lengths. Then I tilted the blade at a 45 degree angle
and cut the 10" pieces in the center lengthwise. I marked them because I can
really screw up a good idea quick. R & L and Box and Bike. I mounted the Bike
pieces so they flared into each other using the existing rack mounts but with
longer bolts ($5.00 for misc. hardware at the closer hardware store) and mounted
the two remaining inside pieces to the box. Once that's finished I could
literally slide the box onto the bike securely from side to side. But if I take
off like a bat outta hell the box slides right off the back. So I drilled a
couple holes from one side to the other through the composite pieces as the box
is mounted on the bike. If I slide an aluminum rod through the hole and it
prevents the box from sliding anywhere. It's secure. I drilled a couple holes so
I could slide the box back to remove the seat if necessary, or forward so the
box is against my lower back a bit - riders backrest. I went to Joanne (sp?)
Fabrics and bought some extremely heavy duty adhesive Velcro to attach a fanny
pack stuffed with foam for my lower back. It's visible in some of the other pics
of my bike elsewhere on this page. And since nobody ever rides pillion on this
bike with me, the box is normally at full forward position which also allows my
extra tank of spare gas to attach to the back of the bike just above the
foot-long LED brake light. The aluminum rod I bought at Home Depot also and cut
it so a couple inches hangs out on either side. Then I drilled a hole on the
ends to place a small keeper clip that won't fall off but is easily pulled off
for removal of the box. The KLR tool box is removed in the pics but has since
been replaced. I hope this has been useful information for you. I like it for
the simple facts that it's less than $50 total investment and features
everything I wanted in a rear box. Tough, functional, easily removed and
lockable. Click each pic for a YUGE closeup pic!

Front Brake Line & Mirror Perches

One of the best investments you can make in your KLR
is a braided front brake line.

Here is where I show you a pic of the hole I made in
the side cover so I could get the seat off without having to take off the side
covers. I like to tinker on the bike so I seem to always be taking
things off and on and off again. This simple mod lets you get the seat off
without wearing out the sidecover fasteners. Yeah, I tinker a lot.

First, hold the side cover out about an inch and line
up the center of the seat bolt with where the outside of the side cover is - I'd
make templates for all you guys but as we all know, every KLR's different.
Both my side covers are different! Anyway, once you find the center, drill a
small hole and then follow up with a larger hole-saw type. Done.

They even fit with a Jardine Slip-On Muffler - and as
for quality, I really like the Jardine. They're a company that's been around a
long time, made in USA, really nice quality and the materials are sweet -
Stainless and Aluminum. The muffler cleans up nice, sounds awesome, reduces
weight and looks cool. Everything a KLR could want.

The Caribous will fit with a Staintune but NOT a
SuperTrapp. Now we know it'll fit with a Jardine too!

Freakin Music man! MUSIC! ! ! ! This KLR just
sings!

Yeah, it's IN THERE!

Used Garmin GPS V - do yourself a favor, buy a new Garmin.

Buying used creates hassles. Reg codes, new software, etc,...

Buy new!

Installing the Enduro Engineering handguards, the other
handguards I've installed were all bastids!

These went MUCH better!

I ended up going with Enduro Engineering
handguards and using the stock KLR plastic guards zip tied to the aluminum brush
guards.

I think it went together awesome!

See pics below.

Maybe it's because of the MSR ATV Midrise bars?

If you click them, they will grow!

Note RAM GPS Mount for the GPS V.

Last June (07) on the way back from VMDs at Mid-Ohio I picked up a rock on one
of the aux lights.

I recently replaced them with another set of *slightly*
smaller ones. Wait a minute and I'll check ....

ok, here's the originals...You can pick them for the same price I
paid at
http://www.autobarn.net/helopperdriv1.html
which I believe is $45 for the
entire kit - two lights, a cool switch and the relays, harness etc,..

These are what's on there now... Product ID: HL88161
Description: HL88161 Optilux 1372 Driving Lamp Kit, Electron Blue Lens
Price: $29.65
I believe I got them at
www.Rallylights.comand they shipped them out
quick too.

PIAAs are great lights. They're expensive lights. They're just the same lights
as Hellas with a PIAA name - they all use the same bulbs.

Most are all made in Mexico or China. I've ridden beside another
KLR with $400 worth of PIAAs and my Hellas were MUCH better.

I also have a real HID headlight I use for daily riding. The aux lights have
only been on a couple times.

Check ebay for the $89 single unit HID for motorcycles - they may
be shipped from Singapore - but it arrived like they were shipped from next door and
work fantastic!